A 2010 photograph of the welcome sign at the eastern border of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
WELCOME TO…
GRATZ
Known to Early Settlers as Wildcat Ridge
“A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME”
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According to the Lykens Township Warrantee Map available from the Pennsylvania Archives, the original name of the tract on which Gratz was settled, was “Wild Cat Hill,” not “Wildcat Ridge.” This land was patented on February 13, 1776 by Aaron Levy. In Levy’s will which was probated in 1815, the land went to Simon Gratz. While Simon Gratz has been credited with establishing the town of Gratz on this land in 1805, he did not get possession or ownership of it until 1815. The earliest mention of Gratz in the U. S. Census was in 1820, when it was referred to as Gratztown. but part of Lykens Township.
The map above also shows a land tract to the east of “Wild Cat Hill”, also owned by Aaron Levy and referred to as “Stonehall.” Today, that is also part of the Borough of Gratz.
For the will of Aaron Levy, see:
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.